The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-01-06
Regnicr, the Spy.

One of the very strangcst features of
the Franco-Germanh war was the part
played by Regnier, whose death at St
Lawrence. near Ramsgate, is announced
in the Paris papers, writes correspond
ent of the London Telegraph. He was
generally supposed TO nave expired long
since. and certainly remember to have
seen his decease mentioned some years
ago. He was commonly spoken of as
Regnier, the spy, and he was condemn
ed by default as such; but for my own
part have always had considerable
doubts on the subject. l often met Reg
neir during the progress of the famous
trial of Bazaine at the Trianon, and he
left on my mind the impression of be-
ing a vain busy-body who had got into
trouble by attempting to perform task
which he had neither the authority to
undertake nor the brain to execute. 1t
is quite possible that he may have been
actuated simply by the desire to bring
about peace, and that he may nave mis-
taken the wish to make himself import-
ant for the capabilIty of becoming a
hero. If he really acted rs spy to the
German forces he must have been scurvi-
ly treated by those for whom he is sup
posed to have worked, for he was II
rich man before the war and almost
penniless afterward. While the BlZaIne
trial was going on he did not attempt
to hide his whereabouts. and up 10 the
last moment he loudly expressed his
determination to come forward as n
witness. The day before that on which
he was to appear, however, his courage
failed him. He strolled out with his
gun on his shoulder, as though he were
going to shoot some pheasants, and he
never went home again. When he was
found guilty by default he had already
crossed the frontier. Yet his running
away is by no means n conclusive proof
of his guilt. Party feeling was then
still very high, and every body who had
been in communication with the imper-
ial family was looked upon with sus-
picion. Regnier may we'll have doubt
ed the result of a public investigation.
Be this ut it may, the mystery of his
case has never been cleared up. He
once gave me collection of the pamph-
lets he had written on the subject, and
he begged me most earnestly to have
them bound in order to insure their be-
ing preserved. remember having been
amused at the time by the great anxiety
he manifested that his writings should
be saved from oblivion. 1t betrayed
the excessive and inordlnate vanity OF
his character, and this vanity is enough
l think 10 account for much that other,
wise would be inexplicable in his con-
duct.
So strange was Regnier's career this
l may well remind your readers of some
episodes of it. Giving himself out as a
diplomatic envoy to Bazaine, he made
his way into Metz toward the end OF
September, 1870. He had Il long con.
versation with Bazainc, and was then
driven back to the German line. Un-
fortunately, he had reckoned without
his host. 1t was night when he return.
ed, and he was fired upon, and narrow.
ly escaped with his life. Taken back tc
Metz, he had another interview with
Bazaine on the following day. after
which he was successful in returning tC
his original starting point without fur
ther mlshap. Many ut the time be
lieved him 10 have been specially EN-
powered by the Empress Eugenie TO con
fer with Bazainc; it is far more probable
| that he had no mission at all. Original
| ly wealthy, he had been utterly ruined
| by the war, and il laundry near Runs
gate, where he died. furnished him il
his declining years with his sole mean.
of subsistence.